Device for forming round belting



2 Sheets-Shut 1 ATTORNEY A H DE VOE DEVICE FOR FORMING ROUND BELTING Filed Set 30. 1919 E S m W Oct. 13, I

, A. H. DE VOE DEVICE FOR FORMING ROUND BELTING ATTORNEY ill) Patented Get. 13, 1925.

' UNKTED STATES PATENT FFIC E.

ALBERT H. DE VDE, 0F WESTFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO THE CLEVELAND TRUS-TOOMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A. CURPORA- TION OF OHIO.

DEVICE FOR FORMING ROUND BELTING'.

Application filed September 30, 1919. Serial No. 327,585.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ALBERT H. Dn V on, acitizen of the United States, residing at Vestfield, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Forming Round Belting, of which the fol lowing is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to sewing machines and more particularly to an attachment therefor, to roll and form a strip of canvas or other flexible and pliable sheet material into substantially a cylinder and present it in that shape and condition to the sewing mechanism, whereby itis stitched so that it will retain its cylindrical shape, and thus form a round flexible belt.

In my c-opending application Serial No. 294.394, filed May 3, 1919, l have disclosed and claimed a round fabric belting and its method of manufacture and the device disclosed and claimed herein is at present my preferred means for carrying out the method disclosed in said copending application. it is to be understood, however, that although the invention is shown and described as used in a machine for sewing round flexible belting, it is not necessarily limited to such use but obviously may be used where the folded material is held to shape by adhesive, such as cement, or for any purpose where it is desired to form a sheet of flexible material into a substantially cylindrical shape by folding and rolling the same upon itself.

- According to the invention in its preferred embodiment the device is so arranged that a sheet of flexible material, such asca-nvas, is rolled or coiled upon itself in the form of a convolute and stitched to hold it to shape. This makes a substantially cylindrical flexible element which is adapted for use as the driving means ofsewing machines and other machinery and particularly as a substitute for the round leatherbelting now generally user for such purposes. The stitches preferably extend substantially diametrically through the product as better securing the various folds in proper' position, but ohviously the-inventionis not limited to such an arrangement as other suitable positioning and forming of the stitches may be employed.

and rolling device comprising a tapered tubular port-ion having a spiral work-guiding slot running throughout itslength, a spaced fabric guide or arbor and a fabric tensioning device.

T he fabric to be rolled is first formed or provided with a welt, bead or guiding means intermediate its edges, preferably either by folding the material and passing the folded edge through a hemmer and stitching the hem on a separate sewing machine, or by folding and stitching about a cord filler. This welt or bead is inserted Within the tubularportion of the folder with the body portion of the material extending through the spiral workuiding slot, folded over the spaced fabric guide or arbor and under the fabric tensioning device. As the material is I the tube ad accnt the slot forming a work confining and guiding means.

A. fabric guide is located'between thedelivery end of the folder and the needle,and

is formed preferably of two adjustably nouiited semi-circular guidmg surfaces.

For a more detailed description of the inrention reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the device secured to the bed-plate of a sewing machine showing its operative position relative to the stitching mechanism. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same with the sewing head removed. Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of the guide members. Fig. 4 is a section of the folding device taken on the line l4 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 5 is a section of the folding device taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 6 is a perspective of the forward end of the folding device and guides for the folded material after leaving the folding device, showing their relative positions. Fig. 7 is a view of the tubular fabric rolling and folding device or guide showing the arrangement of the spiral comprises the usual needle 2, shuttle mechanism 3, feed-dog 4 mounted upon the feedbar 5 and the resser-bar 6 upon which is mounted the presser-foot 7. Throat-plate 8 is provided with the usual needle aperture 9 and opening 10 for the feed-dog.

The folding and rolling device proper consists of a base or support 11 formed as a flat strip, which is secured to the bedplate of the sewing machine by means of a screw 12 extending through the slide-plate 13 and threaded into a yoke 14 on the underside of the bed-plate by which it is clamped thereto. The base or support 11 is secured to this slide-plate 13 by means of screws 14 passing through slots 15 and 16. Mounted upon the base 11 are the supporting straps 17 and 18 which are bent in substantially Z-shape and are adjustably secured to the support by screws 19. The upper ends of Y the supporting straps 17 and 18 are formed with slots 20 and 21 through which are passed thumb-screws 22 threaded into reenforcing rod 23 for adjustably securing the tubular guide 23 in position. This adjustment is a radial adjustment and is to accommodate the device to different widths and thicknesses of material. The guiding member 23 is tapered and placed in position with the small end toward the needle and is formed with a continuous work-guiding slot 25 extending throughout its length, the pitch of the slot 25 decreasing toward the smaller end as shown. Cooperating with the tubular guide 23 is a fabric guiding member or arbor 24 formed concavoconvex in cross section as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. This guide or arbor 24 is mounted so as to extend longitudinally of the tube 23 and is formed at the end adjacent the small end of the tube 23 with a curved guiding edge as shown at 24 merging into an overhanging finger 26. The guide or arbor 24 is supported in operative position by means of straps 27 and 28 adjustably secured to the base or support 11 by suitable screws 29. It is formed with a groove 39 extending substantially throughout its length and coacting with which groove is a tensioning rod 31. The tensioning rod 31 is secured by means of a bent rod 32 to a member 33 pivotally mounted at 43 upon the recessed end 34 of the sliding pin 35, and is mounted, as shown in Fig. 1, with its outer end adjacent the upper or operative edge of the arbor 24, but its distance from this edge gradually increasing toward the discharge and fora purpose which will presently appear. It will be noted that the rod 31 does not extend the full length of the arbor 24 but ends at 31 substantially beneath the curved guiding edge 24. The end 31 is somewhat flattened as shown, so as not to interfere with the rolling or winding of the fabric at this point upon the guide 23. The sliding pin 35 extends through an opening in the upper end of a support 36 and is retained therein by pin 37 extending through a slot 38 communicating with the passage for the sliding pin 35. The support 36 is adjustably secured to the main support 11 by means of screws 39 extending through slots formed in the oppositely extending feet 40 and 41. lVound around the shank of the sliding pin is the spiral spring 42 abutting against the head or upper end of the support 36 and the shoulder formed on said pin 35. This spring tends to force the tensioning rod 31 against the guiding arbor 24 and because of its pivot 43 the tension throughout its length is substantially uniform.

Located between the small end of the guide or folder 23 and the needle are the guiding members 44. These guiding members are preferably composed of two opposed semi-circular guides mounted upon levers 45, said levers being pivoted at 46 intermediate their ends scissors fashion. Upon the ends of the levers opposite the guiding members 44 are cam surfaces 47 with which coact pins or lugs 48 secured in the hand lever 4.9. Hand lever 49 is pivoted at 50 to an L-shaped strap 51 secured to the main-support 11 by suitable screws. The hand lever 49 is formed with a slot 52 through which is extended a thumb screw 53 threaded into the strap 51 and by which the hand lever 49 may be clamped in various positions. he pivot 46 for the arms 45 is on a strap 54 also secured to the main support 11. A spring 55 tends to hold the guiding members 44 separated as shown in Fig. 3. The guiding members 44 are formed with opposed recesses 56 which when the guiding members are closed form an opening for the passage of the needle 2.

Mounted upon the presser-bar 6 is the block 57 provided with a pin 58 extending across a slot formed therein in which is slidingly secured the support 59 for the walking presser-foot 7. The support 59 is pivotally mounted upon the member 60 which is lifted during the formation of each stitch through a cam located in the head of the machine and the clutch mechanism 61 substantially as shown in the patent to Heggie No. 998,845, July 25, 1911 and a more extended description is not believed to be necessary herein. The presser-foot and presser-bar may be manually lifted by means of the usual cam lever 62. Mounted upon the feed-dog is the lug 63 which extends upwardly through a slot in the clothplate and contacts with a roller stud 64 mounted upon the presser-foot 7 to give. a positive feeding movement to the presserfoot Corresponding to that of the lower feed mechanism. The presser-foot and its sup port 59 are normally'held in their forward position by the spring 65. Mounted under the bed-plate is the usual feed lift arm 67 provided with the roller-stud 68 for giving the up and down motion to the feed-dog.

In operation a strip of flexible material such as canvas 69 is first formed with a welt or bead 70 preferably by folding one side of the strip upon itself and then passing the folded edge through a folder and hemmer and stitching a hem therein. The strip of flexible material is then threaded in'the tubular guide 23 by passing the body of the strip through the slot 25 leaving the welt or guiding means 70 within the tube. The body portion of the flexible strip which extends outwardly through the slot 25 is folded over the outer side and top edge of the guiding arbor 24 and down on the inner concaved side thereof between it and the tensioning rod 31 as Clearly shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5 and is then pulled through the slot inthe small end of guiding tube 23, the welt or head 70 forming means for gripping that edge of the strip and also form ing the core around which the rest of the strip is rolled as it passes off the small end of the tube 23. The pressure of the rod 31 automatically gives the proper tension and the finger 26 folds the outer turned edge of the strip on top of the rolled portion as it enters the guides 44. The guides 44 because of the recesses 56 retain the coiled fabric or material firmly in position for passage of the needle during the stitching operation.

As the fabric is tightly wound when it leaves the smaller end of the guiding tube 23 considerable pull is necessary to draw it through the rolling and folding device. It is therefore desirable to provide means for clamping the formed roll, pulling it oil the forming mechanism and past the needle. This is accomplished by providing the feeddog 4 and presser-foot 7 with opposed surfaces, the surfaces being formed with teeth or serrations for gripping a roll as shown under the action of the spring usually provided for holding the presser-foot down on the work. In order to take a portion of the strain off the feed-clog the projection is provided thereon which coacts with the roller-stud 64 on the presser-foot 7 to give a positive feeding movement to the pre'sserfoot corresponding with that of the feed dog. As the rolled material is tightly clamped between the presser-foot and feeddog the belt is prevented from twisting at the stitching point.

It is very important that the fabric or flexible material should be rolled tightly and stitched before it has an opportunity to unwind. Because of the variation in the folded over the arbor 24, to supply that needed by the tubular guide 23 in rolling it about the core 70, but as the material moves toward the smaller end offtube 23 it,

becomes more diflicult for the tube to take material from this body portion and as a result-the material as it progresses is wound tighter and tighter around the core by the pull of the inner guiding edges of the slot 25 on this core. When the material reaches a position under the curved guiding edge 24 the overlapped edge 69 of the fabric which is tending to move upwardly at this point and pass over the edge 24 is gripped by the fabric at 69 which is being turned inwardly at this point around the tube 23. The fabric at 69 thus tends to draw this edge 69 downwardly in between the members 23 and 24. Therefore beyond this point the tensioning device 31 is unnecessary and the curved edge 24 holds both folds of. the folded body portion of the fabric and because of the extension of this curved edge over the tube 23 as shown in Fig.2 it pulls and foldsthis portion of the body of the fabric in the opposite direction to the pull of the slot 25 tending to roll the remaining portion inwardly. This causes the body portion to be very tightly folded or rolled about the welt or coral "'0 as it leaves the end of the tube .13, and as shown in'Fig. 8 forms a two-ply roll or belt. It will be noted that the action is a winding of the flexible material fromthe inside of the roll and a tensioning thereof from the outside. [is the outer folded edge is laid snugly over this tightly rolled portion bythe finger 26 just before the roll reaches the needle it is positioned accurately to receive the stitches adjacent itsedge. It will thus be seen that the roll is stitched before it has 'an opportunity to unwind or untwist and that it has an exposed folded edge which will not ravel or fray.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is 1. In a sewing machine, stitch-forming mechanism, means for rolling a strip of flex ible material. into a substantially convolute form. and means for feeding it to the stitch forming mechanism.

2. In a sewing machine, stitch-forming mechanism, means for rolling a strip of flexible material tightly upon'itself in the form of a convolute and presenting it: to the stitch-forming mechanism.

8. In a device of the class described, means for rollinga strip of flexible material tightly upon itself in the form of a solid convolute, and means for securing it in such condition.

4. In a device of the class described, folding means having oppositely disposed nonoverlapping guiding edges arranged so as to form a spiral slot therebetween, said slot being of substantially the same width throughout and extending lengthwise of said folding means.

5. In a device of the class described, folding means having a tapered form and having non-overlapping edges oppositely disposed throughout substantially their entire extent and arranged so as to form a spiral slot therebetween and extending lengthwise of said folding means.

6. In a device of the class described, folding means having a tapered form and having oppositely disposed non-overlapping edges arranged so as to form a spiral slot therebetween and extending lengthwise of said folding means, the pitch of the spiral decreasing towards the smaller end of the tapered folding means.

7. In a belt forming device, rolling mechanism comprising a tubular member for guiding the material in forming the belt, said member being provided with a slot extending lengthwise thereof and opening directly therethrough through substantially its entire length, and said slot having a spiral portion.

8. In a belt forming device, rolling means comprising a tapered tubular member for guiding the material in forming the belt, said member being provided with a slot ex tending lengthwise thereof and opening directly therethrough through substantially its entire length, and said slot having a spiral portion.

9. In a belt forming device, rolling means comprising a tapered tubular member for guiding the material in forming the belt, said member being provided with a spiral slot extending lengthwise thereof and opening directly therethrough, the pitch of the spiral decreasing toward the smaller end of the tube.

10. In a device of the class described, folding means having oppositely disposed guiding edges arranged so as to form a spiral slot therebetween and extending lengthwise of said folding means, and fabric guiding means spaced transversely from and extending longitudinally of said folding means.

11. In a device of the class described, fold ing means having oppositely disposed guiding edges arranged so as to .form a spiral slot therebetween and extending lengthwise of said folding means, and fabric guiding means spaced transversely from and co-operating' with said folding means.

12. In av device of the class described, fold ing and rolling mechanism comprising a tapered tube provided with a spiral slot extending lengthwise thereof, and a spaced fabric guiding member extending longitudinally of the tube.

13. In a device of the class described, folding means comprising a tapered guide pr vided with a spiral slotextending lengthwise thereof, the pitch of the slot decreasing toward the smaller end of the guide and a spaced fabric guiding member extending longitudinally of the guide.

14. In a device of the class described, a tapered tubular guide providedwith a spiral slot-extending lengthwise thereof, a spaced fabric guiding member extending longitudinally of the tube and a fabric tensioning device (to-operating therewith.

15. In a device of the class described, means for rolling a flexible material, fabric guiding means spaced from and co-operating with said rolling means, and a fabric tensioning means co-operating with said guiding means.

16. In a device of the class described, means for rolling a flexible material, a spaced guiding member co-operating therewith and a tensioning device angularly arranged with respect to and co-operating with the guiding member to provide the proper tension for the material being rolled.

17. In a device of the class described, means for progressively and continuously rolling a flexible material upon itself into substantially cylindrical form of increasing length, and tensioning means for the ma terial being rolled.

18. In a device of the class described, means for rolling a flexible material upon itself comprising a tapered tube having a spiral slot extending lengthwise thereof, and tensioning means for the material being rolled.

19. In a device of the class described, folding means having a tapered form and hav ing oppositely disposed guiding edges arranged so as to form a spiral slot therebetween and extending lengthwise of said folding means, the pitch of the spiral decreasing towards the smaller end of the tapered folding means, fabric guiding means spaced from and co-operating with said folding means, and fabric tensioning means co-operating with said guiding means.

20. In a sewing machine, stitching mechanism, means for rolling a flexible material into a substantially cylindrical convolute form, and means for guiding the rolled. material from the rolling means to the stitching mechanism.

21. In a sewing machine, stitching mechanism, means for rolling a flexible material into a substantially cylindrical form, a guide for the rolled material between the rolling means and the stitching mechanism, said guide comprising two separate guiding members, means for adjustably positioning said members, and means for securing them in adjusted position.

22. In a device of the class described, means for forming a. strip of flexible material into a solid roll comprising a tapered tubular guide provided with a spiral Work guiding means.

23. In a device of the class described, means for rolling a strip of flexible material provided with a Welt, comprising a spiral guide adapted to coact with the Welt.

2a. In a device of the class described, means for progressively and continuously Winding a strip of flexible material into a substantially cylindrical form of increasing length comprising a means for winding the strip from the inside of the roll and a means for tensioning the strip from the outside of the roll during the winding operation.

25. In a device of the class described, means constructed and arranged for folding a strip of flexible material comprising a tapered tube provided with guiding means for folding the material, means co-operating therewith to provide tension upon the material being folded, said parts being so constructed and arranged as to cause a gradual increase in the tension toward the discharge end of the guiding means.

26. In a device of the class described, means for rolling a strip of flexible material comprising a curved guiding element, an

arbor extending longitudinally of the guiding element, said arbor provided adjacent the delivery end of said element with a guide curved in the opposite direction from that of said guiding element.

27. In a device of the class described, means for rolling a strip of flexible material comprising a curved guiding element, an arbor extending longitudinally of the guiding element, said arbor provided adjacent the delivery end of said element with a guide curved in the opposite direction from that of said guiding element, and a fabric tensioning means extending lengthwise of said roll ing means and terminating approximately at the curved guide of said arbor.

28. In a device of the class described, means including a guiding edge for guiding flexible material and rolling the same into belt-like form, means for confining the material upon the said edge, and means for stretching the material transversely.

29. In a device of the class described, means including a guiding edge for guiding flexible material and rolling the same into belt-like form, means for confining the material upon the said edge, and means for stretching the material transversely and longitudinally.

30. In a device of the class described, means including a guiding edge for guiding flexible material and rolling the same into belt-like form, means for confining the material upon the said edge, and means for form ing a loop in the material and stretching the same during the belt-forming operation.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ALBER H. DE VOE. 

